Yunnan Province is rich in nature and full of fertile lands. The area hosts a rich variation of culture as it sits on the borders of Tibet, Burma (now called Myanmer), Laos and Vietnam. While most of China is made up of the Han Chinese culture, multiple cultures have co-existed here for centuries, each forming their own communities and villages throughout the province. There are 25 unique minority tribes found throughout Yunnan. They include the Zhuang, Hui, Yi, Miao, Tibetans, Mongols, Ya, Bai, Hani, Dai, Lisu, Lahu, Wa, Naxi, Jingpo, Bulang, Pumi, Nu, Achang, Jinuo and Drung. The area around Lijiang is dominated by the Naxi tribe, while many of the people around Dali are of Bai origin.


We visited the Bai village called Jiu He on market day. It's located about 75 kilometers southwest of Lijiang. Villagers were shopping for all sorts of daily necessities ranging from toiletries, to clothing, to, of course, food. It is a market for the local people, and nothing at the tourist market was for sale. The most unusual item found at the market was, most likely, the two foreigners who came to visit (that would be us). We were welcomed with their honest smiles as they all tried to offer us their wares. When we were encouraged to try the local dish of saut¨¦ed soybean jelly flavored with chili I decided to go for it. It looked similar to the Japanese food called Kon-nyaku, but was much softer and melted in my mouth. At first taste, my tongue was covered in certain sweetness, followed by the punch of the chili spice. It was a delicious, yet inexpensive, treat.



Children began to gather around us as we walked through the market. We played the fun game of "instant photo" with the digital camera. The kids became even more excited when they could see their own face on the LCD screen and pushed their way into the next series of photos offering up their innocent smiles. When finally we came to the gate of their elementary school, they reluctantly waved goodbye and headed back to class.


It had been raining everyday during the past week, but this day was filled with sunshine. That early autumn feeling was in the air, cool and crisp, but still warm and pleasant in the sun. Soon the village would be in full swing bringing in the harvest, but for now, the adults gathered on the porches of the village houses and chatted about life.



As we headed back to our base at Lijiang we stopped off at another local village, this time of the Naxi tribe. The village was named La Shi and was well known for their apples. The town seemed like it was built around an apple orchard, and everywhere we looked branches were laden with red and green against the fading green leaves. In the center of the village, women sat in the quiet hours after lunch and chatted away while working on there knitting or drying of seeds. Their smiles were welcoming and they displayed an innocent curiosity about this strange Anglo and Asian couple.


Two elderly women invited us to visit their homes. Both were in a traditional design, with impressive gates and walls surrounding the property. Inside, the gate gave way to a large open-air courtyard surrounded by four structures, one on each side. The south facing structure was the main house where, traditionally, the eldest family members live. Two other structures faced east and west, respectively, and housed other family members, usually the oldest son and another sibling. Water buffalo, pigs, and chickens were housed in the north facing structure. Fierce dogs that barked non-stop at the strangers entering the family compound stood guard.



The courtyards were lovingly cared for, filled with walnut trees and potted plants. Corn and sunflower seeds were spread out in the open-air to dry. Each of the women offered us apples and sunflower seeds, pushing handfuls of the freshly harvested seeds deep into our pockets. We sat and listened to their life stories that reflected on China's hard and complex history. Today they live happy and content, enfolded in the traditional family structure, surrounded by their children and their grandchildren. Their smiles told us more than their words ever could.

See more about The Salt Museum in Zigong

About The Salt Museum in Zigong

. Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center . Chengdu Introduction . Attractions in Chengdu: . Chengdu 2 . Northern Sichuan - Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Bike Tour 12-Day Cycling Tour . Muni Valley . Chengdu Tours . Chengdu abounds . Chengdu . Thatched Cottage of Du Fu . Geographic Features . Sanxingdui (Three-Star Piles) Museum . Dujiangyan Irrigation Project . Chengdu Zoo

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